I was going to start my comment by pointing out the silliness of your real estate system. Namely, that if people/society were really that fast to adapt, they would almost all work remotely by now. But on second thought, I think this part was actually intended as April Fools material.
Then I was going to say that the BDSM reference is somewhat distasteful, at least to some people. Not to mention it smells of internet exhibitionism, even if untrue. You could easily pick something better overall.
Then I’d say that while your education and medical care ideas are good, they fail to account for the world-as-it-is. It’s easy to imagine a world-as-it-should-be, especially if you assume that people/society are different. It’s not enough. You have to design a smooth transition from a world-as-it-is to the world-as-it-should-be.
I’d finish by saying that I don’t agree with you that the April Fools excuse will let you get away with as much as you think, especially not in the minds of people outside of LW. This post lowers my estimate of your sanity waterline and I’m accustomed to your writing. Linking here from bloody everywhere was a mistake.
Instead of elaborating on the above, I’ll say this: Eliezer, you really need to get your ego below your IQ.
Instead of elaborating on the above, I’ll say this: Eliezer, you really need to get your ego below your IQ.
In my opinion, that is a matter of taste. I personally like arrogance in very intelligent and creative people. It invites harsher criticism of their ideas by those around them, among other benefits.
One of my favorite classes ever the Prof. began the term by telling us none of the textbooks were good enough so he would just be teaching the class. He went on to say “I guess you could say, ‘moi, je suis le livre.’ ” This was arrogant on so many levels!
It was a joy to come to class every day after that and see if his performance would live up to his arrogance. And when it did, it was a joy to be in such a great class.
The class was Thermodyanamics and Statistical Mechanics at Graduate level. Essentially figure out the 3 laws of entropy starting with the equations of motion of individual particles, including the quantum effects. Yes, we worked out the thermodynamics of an electron gas, which is different than the thermodynamics of Helium nuclei because electrons are fermions and Helium nuclei are bosons.
I have aspired to be “le livre” on things ever since. I’ve met the goal on some small areas of knowledge.
Yes, EY’s public fascination with BDSM is a … wierd thing. But maybe we all have something to learn from that, and maybe it is something that can never be learned from someone who isn’t arrogant.
Then I’d say that while your education and medical care ideas are good, they fail to account for the world-as-it-is. It’s easy to imagine a world-as-it-should-be, especially if you assume that people/society are different. It’s not enough. You have to design a smooth transition from a world-as-it-is to the world-as-it-should-be.
This seems unfair; it’s an April Fool’s joke/rant. It wasn’t intended to lay out a complete path to fixing the world. (Also, “I had to quixotically try to start Earth down the 200-year road to the de’a’na est shadarak”...)
This post lowers my estimate of your sanity waterline
Mine too, but not significantly. Everyone’s allowed a few mistakes, and I kinda dismissed the specifics of the real estate system as not the main point—the main point is that a world run by people who approached actual rationality, looking closely at what would actually benefit people and actively trying to avoid suboptimal Nash equilibria, would be pretty damn good compared to what we have now.
a world run by people who approached actual rationality, looking closely at what would actually benefit people and actively trying to avoid suboptimal Nash equilibria, would be pretty damn good compared to what we have now
Probably, but realize there are at least 2, maybe 3 premises here:
Run by people who approach actual rationality
These people want to benefit everyone and not just themselves
They actively try to avoid Nash equilibria (perhaps a consequence of #1)
Number 2 is the critical missing factor IMHO. I think that to a reasonable approximation the world does look like it’s formed (I hesitate to say “run” since I’m not sure anyone really does run more than small part of the world) by people behaving as rational actors in their own self-interests. Maybe UFI is the problem today, not UFAI.
I was going to start my comment by pointing out the silliness of your real estate system. Namely, that if people/society were really that fast to adapt, they would almost all work remotely by now. But on second thought, I think this part was actually intended as April Fools material.
Then I was going to say that the BDSM reference is somewhat distasteful, at least to some people. Not to mention it smells of internet exhibitionism, even if untrue. You could easily pick something better overall.
Then I’d say that while your education and medical care ideas are good, they fail to account for the world-as-it-is. It’s easy to imagine a world-as-it-should-be, especially if you assume that people/society are different. It’s not enough. You have to design a smooth transition from a world-as-it-is to the world-as-it-should-be.
I’d finish by saying that I don’t agree with you that the April Fools excuse will let you get away with as much as you think, especially not in the minds of people outside of LW. This post lowers my estimate of your sanity waterline and I’m accustomed to your writing. Linking here from bloody everywhere was a mistake.
Instead of elaborating on the above, I’ll say this: Eliezer, you really need to get your ego below your IQ.
In my opinion, that is a matter of taste. I personally like arrogance in very intelligent and creative people. It invites harsher criticism of their ideas by those around them, among other benefits.
One of my favorite classes ever the Prof. began the term by telling us none of the textbooks were good enough so he would just be teaching the class. He went on to say “I guess you could say, ‘moi, je suis le livre.’ ” This was arrogant on so many levels!
It was a joy to come to class every day after that and see if his performance would live up to his arrogance. And when it did, it was a joy to be in such a great class.
The class was Thermodyanamics and Statistical Mechanics at Graduate level. Essentially figure out the 3 laws of entropy starting with the equations of motion of individual particles, including the quantum effects. Yes, we worked out the thermodynamics of an electron gas, which is different than the thermodynamics of Helium nuclei because electrons are fermions and Helium nuclei are bosons.
I have aspired to be “le livre” on things ever since. I’ve met the goal on some small areas of knowledge.
Yes, EY’s public fascination with BDSM is a … wierd thing. But maybe we all have something to learn from that, and maybe it is something that can never be learned from someone who isn’t arrogant.
This seems unfair; it’s an April Fool’s joke/rant. It wasn’t intended to lay out a complete path to fixing the world. (Also, “I had to quixotically try to start Earth down the 200-year road to the de’a’na est shadarak”...)
Mine too, but not significantly. Everyone’s allowed a few mistakes, and I kinda dismissed the specifics of the real estate system as not the main point—the main point is that a world run by people who approached actual rationality, looking closely at what would actually benefit people and actively trying to avoid suboptimal Nash equilibria, would be pretty damn good compared to what we have now.
Probably, but realize there are at least 2, maybe 3 premises here:
Run by people who approach actual rationality
These people want to benefit everyone and not just themselves
They actively try to avoid Nash equilibria (perhaps a consequence of #1)
Number 2 is the critical missing factor IMHO. I think that to a reasonable approximation the world does look like it’s formed (I hesitate to say “run” since I’m not sure anyone really does run more than small part of the world) by people behaving as rational actors in their own self-interests. Maybe UFI is the problem today, not UFAI.
Maybe this was intended (aka “think for yourself” ^^)